After Friday and I became more
intimately acquainted, and that he could understand almost all I said to him, and speak fluently, though in broken English to me; I acquainted him with my own Story, or at least so much of it as
related to my coming into the Place, how I had liv'd there, and how long. I let him into the Mystery, for such it was to him, of Gunpowder, and Bullet, and taught him how to shoot: I gave him a Knife, which he was
wonderfullydelighted with, and I made him a Belt, with a Frog
hanging to it, such as in England we wear Hangers in; and in the Frog, instead of a Hanger, I gave him a Hatchet, which was not only as good a Weapon in some Cases, but much more useful upon other Occasions.
I describ'd to him the Country of Europe, and particularly England, which I came from; how we liv'd, how we worshipp'd God, how we behav'd to one another; and how we traded in Ships to all Parts of the World: I gave him an Account of the Wreck which I had been on board of, and shew'd him as near as I could, the Place where she lay; but she was all beaten in Pieces before, and gone.
I shew'd him the Ruins of our Boat, which we lost when we escap'd, and which I could not stir with my whole Strength then; but was now fallen almost all to Pieces: Upon
seeing this Boat, Friday stood musing a great while, and said nothing; I ask'd him what it was he study'd upon, at last says he, me see such Boat like come to Place at my Nation.
I did not understand him a good while; but at last, when I had examin'd farther into it, I understood by him, that a Boat, such as that had been, came on Shore upon the Country where he liv'd; that is, as he explain'd it, was driven thither by Stress of Weather: I presently imagin'd, that some European Ship must have been cast away upon their Coast, and the Boat might get loose, and drive a Shore; but was so dull, that I never once thought of Men making escape from a Wreck thither, much less
whence they might come; so I only enquir'd after a Description of the Boat.
Friday describ'd the Boat to me well enough; but brought me better to understand him, when he added with some Warmth, we save the white Mans from drown: Then I presently ask'd him, if there was any white Mans, as he call'd them, in the Boat; yes, he said, the Boat full white Mans: I ask'd him how many; he told upon his Fingers seventeen: I ask'd him then what become of them; he told me, they live, they dwell at my Nation.
This put new Thoughts into my Head; for I presently imagin'd, that these might be the Men belonging to the Ship, that was cast away in Sight of my Island, as I now call it; and who after the Ship was struck on the Rock, and they saw her
inevitably lost, had sav'd themselves in their Boat, and were landed upon that wild Shore among the Savages.
Upon this, I enquir'd of him more critically, What was become of them? He assur'd me they lived still there; that they had been there about four Years; that the Savages let them alone, and gave them Victuals to live. I ask'd him, How it came to pass they did not kill them and eat them? He said No, they make Brother with them; that is, as I understood him, a Truce: And then he added, They no eat Mans but when make the War fight; that is to say, they never eat any Men but such as come to fight with them, and are taken in Battle.
It was after this some considerable Time, that being upon the Top of the Hill, at the East Side of the Island, from
whence as have said, I had in a clear Day discover'd the Main, or Continent of America; Friday, the Weather being very
serene, looks very
earnestly towards the Main Land, and in a kind of Surprise, falls a jumping and dancing, and calls out to me, for I was at some Distance from him: I ask'd him, What was the Matter? O joy! Says he, O glad! There see my Country, there my Nation!
I observ'd an extraordinary Sense of Pleasure appear'd in his Face, and his Eyes sparkled, and his Countenance discover'd a strange Eagerness, as if he had a Mind to be in his own Country again; and this Observation of mine, put a great many Thoughts into me, which made me at first not so easy about my new Man Friday as I was before; and I made no doubt, but that if Friday could get back to his own Nation again, he would not only forget all his Religion, but all his Obligation to me; and would be forward enough to give his Countrymen an Account of me, and come back perhaps with a hundred or two of them, and make a Feast upon me, at which he might be as merry as he us'd to be with those of his Enemies, when they were taken in War.
But I wrong'd the poor honest Creature very much, for which I was very sorry afterwards. However as my Jealousy encreased, and held me some Weeks, I was a little more circumspect, and not so familiar and kind to him as before; in which I was certainly in the Wrong too, the honest grateful Creature having no thought about it, but what consisted with the best Principles, both as a religious Christian, and as a grateful Friend, as appeared afterwards to my full Satisfaction.
While my Jealousy of him lasted, you may be sure I was every Day pumping him to see if he would discover any of the new Thoughts, which I suspected were in him; but I found every thing he said was so Honest, and so Innocent, that I could find nothing to
nourish my Suspicion; and in spight of all my Uneasiness he made me at last entirely his own again, nor did he in the least perceive that I was Uneasie, and therefore I could not suspect him of Deceit.
One Day walking up the same Hill, but the Weather being haizy at Sea, so that we could not see the Continent, I call'd to him, and said, Friday, do not you wish your self in your own Country, your own Nation? Yes, he said, he be much O glad to be at his own Nation. What would you do there said I, would you turn Wild again, eat Mens Flesh again, and be a Savage as you were before? He lookt full of Concern, and shaking his Head said, No no, Friday tell them to live Good, tell them to pray God, tell them to eat Corn bread, Cattleflesh, Milk, no eat Man again: Why then said I to him, They will kill you. He look'd grave at that, and then said, No, they no kill me, they willing love learn: He meant by this, they would be willing to learn. He added, they learn'd much of the Bearded-Mans that come in the Boat. Then I ask'd him if he would go back to them? He smil'd at that, and told me he could not swim so far. I told him I would make a Canoe for him. He told me, he would go, if I would go with him. I go! says I, why they will Eat me if I come there! No, no, says he, me make they no Eat you; me make they much Love you: He meant he would tell them how I had kill'd his Enemies, and sav'd his Life, and so he would make them love me; then he told me as well as he could, how kind they were to seventeen White-men, or Bearded-men, as he call'd them, who came on Shore there in Distress.
From this time I confess I had a Mind to venture over, and see if I could possibly joyn with these Bearded-men, who I made no doubt were Spaniards or Portuguese; not doubting but if I could we might find some Method to Escape from thence, being upon the Continent, and a good Company together, better than I could from an Island 40 Miles off the Shore, and alone without Help. So after some Days I took Friday to work again, by way of Discourse, and told him I would give him a Boat to go back to his own Nation; and accordingly I carry'd him to my Frigate which lay on the other Side of the Island, and having clear'd it of Water, for I always kept it sunk in the Water, I brought it out, shewed it him, and we both went into it.
I found he was a most dextrous Fellow at managing it, would make it go almost as swift and fast again as I could; so when he was in, I said to him, Well now, Friday, shall we go to your Nation? He look'd very dull at my
saying so, which it seems was, because he thought the Boat too small to go so far. I told him then I had a bigger; so the next Day I went to the Place where the first Boat lay which I had made, but which I could not get into Water: He said that was big enough; but then as I had taken no Care of it, and it had lain two or three and twenty Years there, the Sun had split and dry'd it, that it was in a manner
rotten. Friday told me such a Boat would do very well, and would carry much enough Vittle, Drink, Bread, that was his Way of Talking.
Upon the whole, I was by this Time so fix'd upon my Design of going over with him to the Continent, that I told him we would go and make one as big as that, and he should go home in it. He answer'd not one Word, but look'd very grave and sad: I ask'd him what was the matter with him? He ask'd me again thus; Why, you angry mad with Friday, what me done? I ask'd him what he meant; I told him I was not angry with him at all. No angry! No angry! says he, repeating the Words several Times, Why send Friday home away to my Nation? Why, (says I) Friday, did you not say you wish'd you were there? Yes, yes, says he, wish be both there, no wish Friday there, no Master there. In a Word, he would not think of going there without me; I go there! Friday, (says I) what shall I do there? He turn'd very quick upon me at this: You do great deal much good, says he, you teach wild Mans be good sober tame Mans; you tell them know God, pray and live new Life. Alas! Friday, (says I) thou knowest not what thou sayest, I am but an ignorant Man my self Yes, yes, says he, you teachee me Good, you teachee them Good. No, no, Friday, (says I) you shall go without me, leave me here to live by my self as I did before. He look'd confus'd again at that Word, and running to one of the Hatchets which he used to wear, he takes it up hastily, comes and gives it me, What must I do with this? says I to him. You take, kill Friday; (says he.) What must I kill you for? said I again. He returns very quick, What you send Friday away for? take, kill Friday, no send Friday away. This he spoke so
earnestly, that I saw Tears stand in his Eyes: In a Word, I so plainly discover'd the utmost Affection in him to me, and a firm Resolution in him, that I told him then, and often after, that I would never send him away from me, if he was willing to stay with me.
Upon the whole, as I found by all his Discourse a settled Affection to me, and that nothing should part him from me, so I found all the Foundation of his Desire to go to his own Country, was laid in his
ardent Affection to the People, and his Hopes of my doing them good; a Thing which as I had no Notion of my self, so I had not the least Thought or Intention, or Desire of
undertaking it. But still I found a strong Inclination to my attempting an Escape as above, founded on the Supposition gather'd from the Discourse, (viz.) That there were seventeen bearded Men there; and therefore, without any more Delay, I went to Work with Friday to find out a great Tree proper to fell, and make a large Periagua or Canoe to undertake the Voyage. There were Trees enough in the Island to have built a little Fleet, not of Periagua's and Canoes, but even of good large Vessels. But the main Thing I look'd at, was to get one so near the Water that we might
launch it when it was made, to avoid the Mistake I committed at first.
At last, Friday pitch'd upon a Tree, for I found he knew much better than I what kind of Wood was fittest for it, nor can I tell to this Day what Wood to call the Tree we cut down, except that it was very like the Tree we call Fustic, or between that and the Nicaragua Wood, for it was much of the same Colour and Smell. Friday was for burning the Hollow or Cavity of this Tree out to make it for a Boat. But I shew'd him how rather to cut it out with Tools, which, after I had shew'd him how to use, he did very handily, and in about a Month's hard Labour, we finished it, and made it very handsome, especially when with our Axes, which I shew'd him how to handle, we cut and hew'd the out-side into the true Shape of a Boat; after this, however, it cost us near a Fortnight's Time to get her along as it were Inch by Inch upon great Rowlers into the Water. But when she was in, she would have carry'd twenty Men with great Ease.
When she was in the Water, and tho' she was so big it amazed me to see with what Dexterity and how swift my Man Friday would manage her, turn her, and
paddle her along; so I ask'd him if he would, and if we might venture over in her; Yes, he said, he venture over in her very well, tho' great blow Wind. However, I had a farther Design that he knew nothing of, and that was to make a Mast and Sail and to fit her with an Anchor and Cable: As to a Mast, that was easy enough to get; so I pitch'd upon a
strait young Cedar-Tree, which I found near the Place, and which there was great Plenty of in the Island, and I set Friday to Work to cut it down, and gave him Directions how to shape and order it. But as to the Sail, that was my particular Care; I knew I had old Sails, or rather Pieces of old Sails enough; but as I had had them now six and twenty Years by me, and had not been very careful to preserve them, not imagining that I should ever have this kind of Use for them, I did not doubt but they were all
rotten, and indeed most of them were so; however, I found two Pieces which appear'd pretty good, and with these I went to Work, and with a great deal of Pains, and
awkwardtedious stitching (you may be sure) for Want of Needles, I at length made a three Corner'd ugly Thing, like what we call in England, a Shoulder of Mutton Sail, to go with a Boom at bottom, and a little short Sprit at the Top, such as usually our Ships Long Boats sail with, and such as I best knew how to manage; because it was such a one as I had to the Boat, in which I made my Escape from Barbary, as
related in the first Part of my Story.
I was near two Months performing this last Work, viz. rigging and
fitting my Mast and Sails; for I finish'd them very compleat, making a small Stay, and a Sail, or Foresail to it, to assist, if we should turn to Windward; and which was more than all, I fix'd a Rudder to the Stern of her, to steer with; and though I was but a bungling Shipwright, yet as I knew the Usefulness, and even Necessity of such a Thing, I apply'd my self with so much Pains to do it, that at last I brought it to pass; though
considering the many dull Contrivances I had for it that sail'd, I think it cost me almost as much Labour as making the Boat.
After all this was done too, I had my Man Friday to teach as to what belong'd to the Navigation of my Boat; for though he knew very well how to
paddle a Canoe, he knew nothing what belong'd to a Sail, and a Rudder; and was the most amaz'd, when he saw me work the Boat too and again in the Sea by the Rudder, and how the Sail gyb'd, and fill'd this way, or that way, as the Course we sail'd chang'd; I say, when he saw this, he stood like one, astonish'd and amaz'd: However, with a little Use, I made all these Things familiar to him; and he became an expert Sailor, except that as to the Compass, I could make him understand very little of that. On the other hand, as there was very little cloudy Weather, and seldom or never any Fogs in those Parts, there was the less occasion for a Compass,
seeing the Stars were always to be seen by Night, and the Shore by Day, except in the rainy Seasons, and then no body car'd to stir abroad, either by Land or Sea.
I was now entred on the seven and twentieth Year of my Captivity in this Place; though the three last Years that I had this Creature with me, ought rather to be left out of the Account, my Habitation being quite of another kind than in all the rest of the Time. I kept the Anniversary of my Landing here with the same Thankfulness to God for his Mercies, as at first; and if I had such Cause of Acknowledgment at first, I had much more so now, having such additional Testimonies of the Care of Providence over me, and the great Hopes I had of being
effectually, and
speedily deliver'd; for I had an invincible Impression upon my Thoughts, that my Deliverance was at hand, and that I should not be another Year in this Place: However, I went on with my Husbandry, digging, planting,
fencing, as usual; I gather'd and cur'd my Grapes, and did every necessary Thing as before.
The rainy Season was in the mean Time upon me, when I kept more within Doors than at other Times; so I had stow'd our new Vessel as secure as we could, bringing her up into the Creek, where as I said, in the Beginning I landed my Rafts from the Ship, and haling her up to the Shore, at high Water mark, I made my Man Friday dig a little Dock, just big enough to hold her, and just deep enough to give her Water enough to fleet in; and then when the Tide was out, we made a strong Dam cross the End of it, to keep the Water out; and so she lay dry, as to the Tide from the Sea; and to keep the Rain off, we laid a great many Boughs of Trees, so thick, that she was as well thatch'd as a House; and thus we waited for the Month of November and December, in which I design'd to make my Adventure.
When the settled Season began to come in, as the thought of my Design return'd with the fair Weather, I was pre paring daily for the Voyage; and the first Thing I did, was to lay by a certain Quantity of Provisions, being the Stores for our Voyage; and intended in a Week or a Fortnight's Time, to open the Dock, and
launch out our Boat. I was busy one Morning upon some Thing of this kind, when I call'd to Friday, and bid him go to the Sea Shore, and see if he could find a Turtle, or Tortoise, a Thing which we generally got once a Week, for the Sake of the Eggs, as well as the Flesh: Friday had not been long gone, when he came running back, and flew over my outer Wall, or Fence, like one that felt not the Ground, or the Steps he set his Feet on; and before I had time to speak to him, he cries out to me, O Master! O Master! O Sorrow! O bad! What's the Matter, Friday? says I; O yonder, there, says he, one, two, three Canoe! one, two, three! By his way of
speaking, I concluded there were six; but on enquiry, I found it was but three: Well, Friday, says I, do not be frighted; so I heartned him up as well as I could: However, I saw the poor Fellow was most terribly scar'd; for nothing ran in his Head but that they were come to look for him, and would cut him in Pieces, and eat him; and the poor Fellow trembled so, that I scarce knew what to do with him: I comforted him as well as I could, and told him I was in as much Danger as he, and that they would eat me as well as him; but, says I, Friday, we must resolve to fight them; Can you fight, Friday? Me shoot, says he, but there come many great Number. No matter for that, said I again, our Guns will fright them that we do not kill; so I ask'd him, Whether if I resolv'd to defend him, he would defend me, and stand by me, and do just as I bid him? He said, Me die, when you bid die, Master; so I went and fetch'd a good Dram of Rum, and gave him; for I had been so good a Husband of my Rum, that had a great deal left: When he had drank it, I made him take the two Fowling-Pieces, which we always carry'd, and load them with large Swan-Shot, as big as small Pistol Bullets; then I took four Muskets, and loaded them with two Slugs, and five small Bullets each; and my two Pistols I loaded with a Brace of Bullets each; I hung my great Sword as usual, naked by my Side, and gave Friday his Hatchet.
When I had thus prepar'd my self, I took my Perspective-Glass, and went up to the Side of the Hill, to see what I could discover; and I found quickly, by my Glass, that there were one and twenty Savages, three Prisoners, and three Canoes; and that their whole Business seem'd to be the
triumphant Banquet upon these three
humane Bodies, (a
barbarous Feast indeed) but nothing more than as I had observ'd was usual with them.
I observ'd also, that they were landed not where they had done, when Friday made his Escape; but nearer to my Creek, where the Shore was low, and where a thick Wood came close almost down to the Sea: This, with the Abhorrence of the in
humane Errand these Wretches came about, fill'd me with such Indignation, that I came down again to Friday, and told him, I was resolv'd to go down to them, and kill them all; and ask'd him, If he would stand by me? He was now
gotten over his Fright, and his Spirits being a little rais'd, with the Dram I had given him, he was Cry chearful, and told me, as before, he would die, when I bid die.
In this Fit of Fury, I took first and divided the Arms which I had charg'd, as before, between us; I gave Friday one Pistol to stick in his Girdle, and three Guns upon his Shoulder; and I took one Pistol, and the other three my self; and in this Posture we march'd out: I took a small Bottle of Rum in my Pocket, and gave Friday a large Bag, with more Powder and Bullet; and as to Orders, I charg'd him to keep close behind me, and not to stir, or shoot, or do any Thing, till I bid him; and in the mean Time, not to speak a Word: In this Posture I fetch'd a Compass to my Right-Hand, of near a Mile, as well to get over the Creek, as to get into the Wood; so that I might come within shoot of them, before I should be discover'd, which I had seen by my Glass, it was easy to do.
While I was making this March, my former Thoughts returning, I began to abate my Resolution; I do not mean, that I entertain'd any Fear of their Number; for as they were naked, unarm'd Wretches, 'tis certain I was superior to them; nay, though I had been alone; but it occurr'd to my Thoughts, What Call? What Occasion? much less, What Necessity I was in to go and dip my Hands in Blood, to attack People, who had neither done, or intended me any Wrong? Who as to me were innocent, and whose
barbarous Customs were their own Disaster, being in them a Token indeed of God's having left them, with the other Nations of that Part of the World, to such Stupidity, and to such in
humane Courses; but did not call me to take upon me to be a Judge of their Actions, much less an Executioner of his Justice; that whenever he thought fit, he would take the Cause into his own Hands, and by national Vengeance punish them as a People, for national Crimes; but that in the mean time, it was none of my Business; that it was true, Friday might justify it, because he was a declar'd Enemy, and in a State of War with those very particular People; and it was
lawful for him to attack them; but I could not say she same with respect to me: These Things were so warmly press'd upon my Thoughts, all the way as I went, that I resolv'd I would only go and place my self near them, that I might observe their
barbarous Feast, and that I would act then as God should direct; but that unless something offer'd that was more a Call to me than yet I knew of, I would not
meddle with them.
With this Resolution I enter'd the Wood, and with all possible Waryness and Silence, Friday following close at my Heels, I march'd till I came to the Skirt of the Wood, on the Side which was next to them; only that one Corner of the Wood lay between me and them; here I call'd softly to Friday, and shewing him a great Tree, which was just at the Corner of the Wood, I bad him go to the Tree, and bring me Word if he could see there plainly what they were doing; he did so, and came immediately back to me, and told me they might be plainly view'd there; that they were all about their Fire, eating the Flesh of one of their Prisoners; and that another lay bound upon the Sand, a little from them, which be said they would kill next, and which fir'd all the very Soul within me; he told me it was not one of their Nation; but one of the bearded Men, who he had told me of, that came to their Country in the Boat: I was fill'd with Horror at the very naming the white-bearded Man, and going to the Tree, I saw plainly by my Glass, a white Man who lay upon the Beach of the Sea, with his Hands and his Feet ty'd, with Flags, or Things like Rushes; and that he was an European, and had Cloaths on.
There was another Tree, and a little Thicket beyond it, about fifty Yards nearer to them than the Place where I was, which by going a little way about, I saw I might come at undiscover'd, and that then I should be within half Shot of them; so I with-held my Passion, though I was indeed enrag'd to the highest Degree, and going back about twenty Paces, I got behind some Bushes, which held all the way, till I came to the other Tree; and then I came to a little rising Ground, which gave me a full View of them, at the Distance of about eighty Yards.
I had now not a Moment to loose; for nineteen of the dreadful Wretches sat upon the Ground, all close huddled together, and had just sent the other two to butcher the poor Christian, and bring him perhaps Limb by Limb to their Fire, and they were stoop'd down to untie the Bands, at his Feet; I turn'd to Friday, now Friday, said I, do as I bid thee; Friday said he would; then Friday, says I, do exactly as you see me do, 'fail in nothing; so I set down one of the Muskets, and the Fowling-Piece, upon the Ground, and Friday did the like by his; and with the other Musket, I took my aim at the Savages, bidding him do the like; then asking him, If he was ready? He said, yes, then fire at them, said I; and the same Moment I fir'd also.
我和星期五成了好朋友,我说的话,他几乎都能听懂;他自己的英语尽管说得不太地道,但已能相当流利地与我交谈了。这时,我就把自己的身世告诉了他,特别是我怎样流落到这小岛上来,怎样在这儿生活,在这儿已多少年了等等。我又把火药和子弹的秘密告诉了他,因为,在他看来,这确实是个秘密,并教会了他开枪。我还给了他一把刀,对此他高兴极了。我又替他做了一条皮带,皮带上挂了一个佩刀的搭环,就像在英国我们用来佩刀的那种搭环。不过,在搭环上,我没有让他佩腰刀,而是给他佩了把斧头,因为斧头不仅在战斗时可以派用场,而且在平时用处更多。
我把欧洲的情况,特别是我的故乡英国的情况,说给他听,告诉他我们是怎样生活的,我们怎样崇拜上帝,人与人之间又怎样互相相处,以及怎样乘船到世界各地做生意。我又把我所乘的那条船出事的经过告诉他,并指给他看沉船的大致地方。至于那条船,早已给风浪打得粉碎,现在连影子都没有了。
我又把那只小艇的残骸指给他看,也就是我们逃命时翻掉的那只救生艇。我曾经竭尽全力想把它推到海里去,但怎么使劲小艇都分毫不动。现在,这小艇也已差不多烂成碎片了。星期五看到那只小艇,站在那里出神了好一会儿,一句话也不说。我问他在想些什么。他说,"我看到过这样的小船到过我们的地方。"我好半天都不明白他的意思。最后,经过详细追问,我才明白他的意思:曾经有一只小艇,同这只一模一样,在他们住的地方靠岸,而且,据他说,小艇是给风浪冲过去的。由此,我马上联想到,这一定是一只欧洲的商船在他们海岸附近的海面上失事了,那小艇是被风浪打离了大船,飘到他们海岸上。当时,我的头脑真是迟钝极了,我怎么也没有想到有人也许从失事的船只上乘小艇逃生,到了他们那边。至于那是些什么人,我当然更是想都没有想过。因此,我只是要星期五把那只小艇的样子详详细细地给我描绘一番。
星期五把小艇的情况说得很清楚。后来,他又很起劲地补充说:"我们又从水里救出了一些白人。"这才使我进一步了解了他的意思。我马上问他小艇上有没有白人。他说:"有,满满一船,都是白人。"我问他有多少白人,他用手指头扳着告诉我,一共有十七个。我又问他们现在的下落。他回答说:"他们都活着,他们就住在我们的部落里。"他的话马上使我产生了新的联想。我想,那些白人一定是我上次在岛上看到出事的那条大船上的船员。他们在大船触礁后,知道船早晚会沉没,就上小艇逃生了。他们到了野人聚居的蛮荒的海岸上了岸。
因此,我更进一步仔仔细细地打听了那些白人的下落。星期五再三告诉我,他们现在仍住在那里,已经住了四年了。野人们不去打扰他们,还供给他们粮食吃。我问他,他们为什么不把那些白人杀了吃掉呢?星期五说:"不,我们和他们成了兄弟。"对此,我的理解是,他们之间有一个休战协议。接着,他又补充说:
"他们只是打仗时吃人,平时是不吃人的。"这就是说,他们只吃战争中所抓到的俘虏,平时一般是不吃人的。
此后过了很久,有一天,天气晴朗,我和星期五偶然走上岛东边的那座小山顶。在那儿,也是在一个晴朗的日子里,我曾看到了美洲大陆。当时,星期五全神贯注地朝大陆方向眺望了一会儿,忽然出乎意外地手舞足蹈起来,还把我叫了过去,因为我恰好不在他身边,离开他还有几步路。我问他是怎么回事。他说:
"噢,真高兴!真快活!我看到了我的家乡,我看到了自己的部落了!"这时,我只见他脸上现出一种异乎寻常的欣喜。他双眼闪闪发光,流露出一种热切兴奋和神往的神色,仿佛想立刻返回他故乡去似的。看到他这种心情,我胡思乱想起来。我对星期五不由起了戒心,因而与他也不像以前那样融洽了。我毫不怀疑,只要星期五能回到自己的部落中去,他不但会忘掉他的宗教信仰,而且也会忘掉他对我的全部义务。他一定会毫不犹豫地把我的情况告诉他部落里的人,说不定还会带上一两百他的同胞到岛上来,拿我来开一次人肉宴。那时,他一定会像吃战争中抓来的俘虏那样一样兴高采烈。
我的这些想法实在大大冤枉了这个可怜的老实人。为此,我后来对他感到十分歉意。可是,当时我的疑虑有增无已,一连好几个星期都不能排除。我对他采取了不少防范的措施,对待他也没有像以前那样友好,那样亲热了。这样做,我又大大地错了。其实,他和从前一样,既忠实,又感恩,根本就没有想到这些事情上去。后来的事实也证明,他既是一位虔诚的基督徒,又是一位知恩图报的朋友。他的这种品质实在使我非常满意。
可是,在我对他的疑惧没有消除之前,我每天都要试探他,希望他无意中会暴露出自己的思想,以证实我对他的怀疑。可是我却发现,他说的每一句话都那么诚实无瑕,实在找不出任何可以让我疑心的东西。因此,尽管我心里很不踏实,他还是赢得了我的信任。在此期间,他一点也没有看出我对他的怀疑,我也没有根据疑心他是在装假。
有一天,我们又走上了那座小山。但这一次海上雾蒙蒙的,根本看不见大陆。我对星期五说:"星期五,你不想回到自己的家乡,回到自己的部族去吗?"他说:
"是的,我很想回到自己的部族去。"我说:"你回去打算做什么呢?你要重新过野蛮生活,再吃人肉,像从前那样做个食人生番吗?"他脸上马上显出郑重其事的样子,拼命摇着头说:"不,不,星期五要告诉他们做好人,告诉他们要祈祷上帝,告诉他们要吃谷物面包,吃牛羊肉,喝牛羊奶,不要再吃人肉。"我说:"那他们就会杀死你。"他一听这话,脸上显出很庄重的神色说:"不,他们不会杀我。他们爱学习。"他的意思是说,他们愿意学习。接着,他又补充说他们已经从小艇上来的那些有胡子的人那儿学了不少新东西。然后,我又问他是否想回去。他笑着对我说,他不能游那么远。我告诉他,我可以给他做条独木舟。他说,如果我愿意跟他去,他就去。"我去?"我说,"我去了他们不就把我吃掉了?""不会的,不会的,"他说,"我叫他们不吃你。我叫他们爱你,非常非常爱你!"他的意思是说,他会告诉他们我怎样杀死了他的敌人,救了他的命。所以,他会使他们爱我。接着,他又竭力描绘他们对待那十七个白人怎么怎么好。那些白人是在船只遇难后上岸到他们那儿的,他叫他们"有胡子的人"。
从这时期,我得承认,我很想冒险渡海过去,看看能否与那些有胡子的人会合。我毫不怀疑,那些人不是西班牙人,就是葡萄牙人。我也毫不怀疑,一旦我能与他们会合,就能设法从这儿逃走。因为,一方面我们在大陆上;另一方面,我们成群结伙,人多势众。这要比我一个人孤立无援,从离大陆四十海里的小岛上逃出去容易多了。所以,过了几天之后,我又带星期五外出工作,谈话中我对他说,我将给他一条船,可以让他回到自己的部族那儿去。为此,我把他带到小岛另一头存放小船的地方。我一直把船沉在水底下,所以,到了那儿,我先把船里的水排干,再让船从水里浮上来给他看,并和他一起坐了上去。
我发觉他是一个驾船的能手,可以把船划得比我快一倍。
所以,在船上,我对他说:"好啦,星期五,我们可以到你的部族去了吗?"听了我的话,他楞住了。看来,他似乎是嫌这船太小,走不了那么远。这时,我又告诉他,我还有一只大一点的船。于是,第二天,我又带他到我存放我造的第一只船的地方,那只船我造了却无法下水。他说,船倒是够大。可是,我一直没有保护它,在那儿一躺就是二十二、三年,被太阳晒得到处干裂并朽烂了。星期五告诉我,这样的船就可以了,可以载"足够的食物、饮水和面包。"他是这样说的。